Jarrad Davis started nine games last year and recorded 60 tackles with two sacks. He also had four pass breakups, five quarterback hurries and missed four games with an ankle injury. Phelan M. Ebenhack, Associated Press

Finally, Roberts will get a chance to play in the NFL, and also help out his mother, Maria Young.

“It means the world,” said Roberts of getting drafted. “Since I started my journey, it’s always been about my mother and grandmother and supporting them, and even though I don’t get the chance to really support my grandmother (who is deceased), it’s still a dream to support my mother.

“It was a long time and something that I worked toward. It’s just great to see it all pay off.”

There’s been so much heartache along the way, so many people Roberts was thinking about Saturday as his name was called by the Lions.

Roberts’ grandmother, Deborah Young, died of cancer during his senior year, just four days before Christmas.

Then, about three months later, Roberts’ younger brother Cameron, just 10, was accidentally shot in the stomach and died.

Football didn’t seem to matter to Roberts at that point.

“I was 17 at the time and I had just lost my grandmother a couple months before,” Roberts said. “I would say that time period was definitely the hardest I had to deal with in my life to date.”

But Roberts persevered, would up at Toledo and steadily worked his way up the depth chart.

How did Roberts overcome all the tragedy?

“The same way I get (through) everything – just put my head down and work,” Roberts said. “(There’s) nothing that can prepare you for such events. You just have to use that negative energy and direct it in a positive light, to not only graduate college, but just finish high school.

“I play for so many different people. It’s hard to not give your all when it’s a lot bigger than you. I never play for myself.”